March 2003
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Reviewed by Lynne Lamberg |
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In San Diego, which enjoys more sunny days than 80 percent of American cities, as well as a temperate climate, the average adult still spends less than one hour outdoors each day. The demise of neighborhood schools and shops that attract foot traffic, the lure of hundreds of television channels and the Internet, and concerns about safety on the streets combine to keep Americans mostly indoors, Daniel Kripke, MD, asserts in this monograph. Lack of bright light exposure may contribute to the rising incidence of depression in our society, says Kripke, an investigator of light's impact on mood for more than 20 years. He also is a professor of psychiatry at the University of California at San Diego. Some research suggests that depression now starts at an earlier age, he notes. Suicide rates are higher in both youth and seniors today than in the past. In a specific type of depression, Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, mood starts to plummet as days shorten in fall and winter, and rises again in the spring as daylight lengthens. People who live in dark northern cities such as Portland, New York, and Fairbanks experience higher rates of SAD than those who live in Miami or Tucson. Spending more time outdoors—ideal but not always practical—or use of daylight intensity lighting devices both can boost mood. For the latter, a person may need to experiment to determine the appropriate light level and length of exposure that lifts the blues without triggering irritability or restless sleep. Light therapy, once viewed as a possible alternative to antidepressant medications and counseling, Kripke says, now is seen as having a more adjunctive role. Combination treatment may provide more benefits than any one approach, he says, and may aid people with both seasonal and nonseasonal depression. Using light at the right time also can help people who fall asleep and wake up earlier than desired, or conversely, those who fall asleep and wake up later than they wish. This concise, practical monograph describes indications for light therapy, types and sources of lighting devices, guidelines for use, and treatment cautions. Kripke provides a public service by offering this information free via the Internet. It would be even more useful if he were to add suggestions for further reading, links to depression and sleep websites, and contact information for light therapy specialists. Until then, readers seeking further information might start their search at the websites of the Society for Light Treatment and Biological Rhythms and the Sleep Home Pages. |
© 2003
WebSciences and Lynne Lamberg |
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